Iloilo city: Iloilo City Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace Baronda was elected chair of the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) during its national convention and election held from February 23 to 25 in Manila.
According to Philippines News Agency, Baronda expressed her gratitude and overwhelming emotion upon being recognized by NMYL members, who number around 9,000 across the country, as capable of leading their movement. She emphasized that one of her main priorities would be to enhance the structure of consultation and leadership training programs, which she believes are crucial for members to effectively deliver services.
Baronda also highlighted her commitment to ensuring that the concerns of members from different regions are thoroughly discussed. She mentioned her role at the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, which allows her to bring discussions from the local level to the national stage, thus influencing national policies alongside presidents of other leagues in the country.
Additionally, Baronda aims to secure more international training partnerships, drawing from her own experience as the first NMYL partner for international learning with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore. The NMYL, comprising legislators aged 40 and below, serves as a platform for young leaders to converse, share best practices, and inspire each other for the nation's progress.
Baronda underlined the movement's goal to cultivate young leaders as exemplary figures within their communities, stating, "We are building the young leaders to be good examples of the community. I will be leading the movement until 2028."
